Feels plusher and more active to me. Pivot is a tad more nervous IMHO. Pivot climbs notably better on smooth roads, but I did not try them with equivalent shocks (was RP23 on Pivot, which ain't the same as Cane Creek DB air I got, which I tuned to go down. I can handle a bit of suspension movement when pedaling. ). Same observation in the rough (up and down) - Helius was much nicer, but that is my preference in suspension and possibly shock tune. Both bike are very well made and obviously study. Appearance wise, Nicolai wins. Not sure it is really debatable (don't flame me, Pivot fans). But you can periodically snag Firebird on a really good discount (just saw ~$1400 for last year ones)

Waiting on Lyrik DH Coil 170mm for Helius, should only get better. Difficult to dial out brake dive on Wotan without flipping "Albert" platform back and forth..

Feels plusher and more active to me. Pivot is a tad more nervous IMHO. Pivot climbs notably better on smooth roads, but I did not try them with equivalent shocks (was RP23 on Pivot, which ain't the same as Cane Creek DB air I got, which I tuned to go down. I can handle a bit of suspension movement when pedaling. ). Same observation in the rough (up and down) - Helius was much nicer, but that is my preference in suspension and possibly shock tune. Both bike are very well made and obviously study. Appearance wise, Nicolai wins. Not sure it is really debatable (don't flame me, Pivot fans). But you can periodically snag Firebird on a really good discount (just saw ~$1400 for last year ones)

Sounds like it could be an interesting comparison to how I run my Firebird with a CCDB coil. Hopefully the Helius AC is a good replacement for the Mach 5 and Firebird.

i'll have my liteville 301 built in a week or two. in sydney.
i'll post my thoughts of how it rides in our terrain if you can wait.

Thought I would do the right thing and honour my promise here.

Completed the build with XX1, Tune/Stans/sapim cx ray wheels, Syntace Kit the best part of which are the super wide and swept Vector bars and megaforce 60mm stem.

Had some lighter rubber initially - Nobby N on the front and Racing R on the back and found the set up limited the bike enormously

The rear plates are set up for 140mm with a 150mm Revelation out front.

Bike feels mostly balanced in this setting with the Revelation still having too much initial low speed compression for my liking.

It is very plush but since it has an FSR rear end feels a lot more lively than a VPP or such. Ridden back to back with a Carbine 275 which admittedly was set up rather badly IMO the bike felt plusher, livelier but more bobby. The Carbine was tigher being shorter so more nimble and the rear end of the Carbine felt a lot firmer on smooth ground whilst climbing.

The 301 however felt more stable and more confidence inspiring due to its longer wheelbase and slacker head angle.

Take your pick or preference. Ultimately any machine of this ilk - Nicolai or Liteville - if set up correctly will make you smile every second of your ride !